Friday, December 30, 2011

I am constantly raiding my closet and always second guessing myself as to why I bought stuff. Like the bright orange pullover or the way too tight pants...Seriously Shannon what were you're thinking. Anwyay, the clothing goes into three piles. Donation, Garage Sale, and DIY.

One fun DIY project I created was this organization board from six different sweaters. Jeeze, I didn't realize how many neutral colors I have. It's a true sign of living in the Pacific NW.

I grabbed an old window, some pillow stuffing, upholstery tacks, cut the sweaters up in rectangles and stuffed and hammered each sweater to the inside of each pane. So now my closet and office are both organized!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

One of my favorite magazines is Natural Home & Garden. It reaches so many topics of sustainability, recycling, and eco-friendly solutions to better our planet. I love it! Recently, Jessica Kellner, the Editor posted one of my DIY projects on their website. It's my burnt out light bulb wreath. And even though it's painted red for the holidays, all you need is a can of spray paint and in minutes you can paint it a new color for the new year! I also want to thank Jessica for providing magazines for Design Sponge's Portland Bazaar. They were a big hit. And last but not least, cause she's my Best Friend. In this issue, a wonderful spread of Joanne Palmisano's book, Salvage Secrets. Woo Hoo!

Friday, December 23, 2011

We came, we puzzled, we glued, we made the best holiday wreaths ever at Design Sponge's Portland Bazaar! It's amazing what scrap wood (lath) some red paint and glue can create. Add a little personality from a group of fabulous people and my DIY class walked away with a wonderful holiday memory. Thanks to Grace Bonney of Design Sponge for asking me to be a part of the Portland Bazaar. Hope to see you all again next year!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

I snagged four of these chairs at an estate sale in Long Beach Califonia, a steal at only $15.00 each. But I wanted to jazz them up so had my friend Suzanne Martin make slip covers for me from some painter drop cloths, upholstery wrap, my grandma's old buttons and some scrap fringe. Whatcha think?

Friday, December 9, 2011

Time to wrap presents! Here's fun idea. Decorate new paint cans. You can buy them at any paint supply store. My source is Powell Paint Centerwww.powellpaintcenter.com in Portland Oregon.

Also I just want to give a shoot out to Steve Cridland.

He never asks. He never questions. He's the perfect man, right? Well, in my little world of salvaging junk, he is the perfect guy. I am talking about my good friend and photographer extraordinaire, www.cridlandphoto.com Steve Cridland.

All of my published DIY projects for magazines over the years, Steve has been behind the camera. Steve, thanks for making all my crazy DIY ideas look amazing!

One of my favorite books is called Joseph Had an Overcoat. It's about a man whose only coat started to fray and fall apart. But instead of throwing it away he made it into something else. At the end of the story the last piece of coat ended up being button and it finally popped off and left Joseph with nothing. So what did he do...he wrote a book about it.

I love that book. And it's my inspiration for my belt mat. I had a favorite leather belt, but it finally kicked the bucket. But instead of throwing it away, I made it into to something else.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Come spend some Girlfriend Time with me at Design Sponge's Portland Bazaar!

We will have fun making this scrap wood wreath, plus a book signing of Salvage Secrets, tons of fun DIY goodies to take home to help check off your holiday gift list. Or what the heck, keep it all for yourself. There are only 15 seats available so sign up fast!

Sunday Dec. 11th 3-4pm at Sandbox Studio. Click on the link below and grab a spot.

Monday, December 5, 2011

You are looking at raw materials of the scrap wooden wreath we will be making! Below is the description of the class on Design Sponge and here's the link to sign up. Only 15 spots open!! Plus I have decorating goodies (paints, Tomboy Tools, Hope bags, this list goes on and on) for all who attend too! This is going to be a blast.

3pm-4pm: DIY Wooden Wreath-Making with Shannon Quimby ($20): What do you get when you combine local Salvage DIY Decorating Gal Shannon Quimby, scrap wood, a blow dryer, glue and paint? Lots of fun and super stylish, upcycled, one of kind, decorative wood wreath that will stand the test of time. Class attendees will leave with their own wreath and a couple surprises from Shannon. Shannon will also be signing copies of her book, Salvaged Secrets. Your class fee covers all materials. SIGN UP HERE

Saturday, December 3, 2011

What do you think this photo is of? Well, it's a sneak peak of the class I am teaching at Design Sponge's www.designsponge.com first Portland Bazaar! www.portlandbazaar.com Spaces are limited so sign up fast. Dec. 11th 3pm. Wait there's more! A book signing of Salvage Secrets, by Joanne Palmisano. I snagged some books for you, perfect for holiday gifts!

OK...I will spill the beans about the photo. It's a wreath made out of burnt out light bulbs. At the Portland Bazaar, I will be showing how to make this, and you will get to make my latest salvage DIY project, a scrap wood wreath!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Over the summer I did an outdoor table top decorating project for the Oregonian Homes and Gardens. Styling with apples and hydrangeas.
I thought...why not do the same table top decorating for the holidays. It's simple, it's cheap and you can eat it too. Total holiday colors of red and green apples.
Just poke a hydrangea or any other flower that is in season in your neck of the woods into the top of the apple. Have fun.

Sometimes you just need to stop. Stop what you are doing. And go have fun. Go and fill your heart. My heart-fill is a tiny beach town, Oceanside, Oregon. Sand in your boots, a never ending smile, and jumping as high as you can!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

At the check out stand I was admiring the bundles of tulips for sale 3/$10.00. So I treated myself and bought some. I figured flowers are much better than that Butterfinger that was staring me down. When I brought them home they seemed more springlike than Holiday. So I grabbed some silver ornaments and sticks to create a combo... Spring meets Winter.

Friday, November 4, 2011

I know it's early but thought you'd like to start thinking about what to do about some holiday decorations. My creative buddy, Bret Hodgert from Old Portland Hardware and Architectural put this together. I have to show it off! Isn't it terrific? Just remove the prisms and replace with ornaments!
Cheers
Shannon

Monday, October 31, 2011

I have been so honored to be selected by Endurawood to design the Limited Edition of the Sellwood Trolley Line. Furniture made from century old salvaged timbers of the Sellwood Street Car Barns here in Portland Oregon. The furniture will debute at Endurawood and at a Fabulous Pop Up store called BOYS FORT www.boysfort.org. Grand Opening Nov. 3rd witht the Mayor of Portland arriving for the ribbon cutting Nov. 9th at 1pm PST. These are just two designs of a selection of seven. Own a peice of history! Even the railroad spikes were salvaged by a sweet friend of mine, 13yr old Gabrielle.
Cheers!
Shannon

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

I need your help! My loft bathroom has been chosen as an entry for the 2012 Apartment Therapy color contest! The original flooring, scrap door wind window trim, the beer bottle recycled glass counter tops, the green NO VOC paint! It goes on and on!
http://community.apartmenttherapy.com/contests/color/2011/entries/3253
You can choose your favorite (please be mine, please be mine) through noon (EST) on November 21, 2011. The top rooms (receiving the highest number of "favorites") in each of the National divisions (North, South, East, West) will become our Regional finalist winners and will move on to the next round of voting to determine the Grand Prize winner.
The top room (receiving the highest number of "favorites") in the International division as of November 21, 2011 will be our International winner.
Help me spread the word of Sustainable color, and design. I don't win anything other than a HUGE pat on the back, which we all know once in a while that feels pretty darn good!
Feel free to let the world know Shannon's Natural Salvage Room about your entry through email, Facebook and Twitter. Ask your friends, family and coworkers to help out by "favoriting" my bathroom, sharing it on Facebook and tweeting it to their followers to help my room make it to the final round.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Fall season is the best source for quick and easy decorating. While walking my 14 year old dog, Blue I stuffed my pockets with nature's picks for a tabletop centerpiece. And since Blue is in retirement, he walks very very slow, plenty of time for me to look for outdoor decorating treasures. The only thing I did not enjoy...picking up after Blue. I had to bring that home too. No, it did not become any part of my indoor decorating!
Cheers!
Shannon

My all time favorite Halloween costume that I have made numerous times is my version of a piece of paper. I get a men's large t-shirt and with markers make lines and three dots acting as holes, velcro more pens on the sleeve and insto-presto it's the best conversation starter at all the parties...
Have a BOO-tiful day!
Shannon

Saturday, October 22, 2011

As soon as my best friend Joanne Palmisano steps off the plane here in Portland Oregon (she lives in Shelburne Vermont) the camera starts flying. Even on the way home from the airport, she does the Dustin Hoffman Rain Man shots. You know, the snapping photos randomly while the car is speeding down the road. It never stops, just like Joanne. But in her flurry of photos and never ending of seeing beauty in the simple things of life, she captures some moments that most of us miss. One of my favorite shots she took recently is of my little lamb sitting pretty on my fireplace mantle.
And if you want to see more of her amazing work check out her just released book! Salvage Secrets. My little lamb isn't in it, but many other parts of my house (The REX Project) are and I am so proud to be a part of it.
And yep, you are seeing double, that's Joanne's twin sister Rosanne Palmisano (Joanne is in white) hanging out by my outdoor fireplace.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

I love wreaths! Why, because it's an endless way to be creative. One of my favorite ones I make is the combinatioin of a Jello-Mold and Hens and Chicks, referring to the plants of course. For full directions you can go to my column in The Oregonian, www.oregonlive.com/hg. Type in Shannon Quimby under search and not only will you see this great idea but many more.

I am starting to put together some holiday gifts for friends and family and these globe lights I made hopefully will put a smile on a face or two. All you need is some wire, beads, wire cutters, old glass globe and a candle. Have fun string the beads and twisting and turning to make shapes.

Hopefully Martha Stewart won't find these milkglass vases collectible. If so, cafrabits (as my dad would say) because they are cheap, even free most of the time. I love scooping them up at garage sales and with a little sticky putty, have fun stacking them! You SO can do this too!

That darn dryer! Why does it always eat the brand new socks, never the old ones with holes in them. No worries, I decided to make due with what I had leftover. Instant wrapping paper, a wine cozy, and dressed up vase of flowers!

I am always trying to save the under dog. Stuff that overflows at the thrift stores that we can't figure out what to do with. Prime example: Outdated bath vanity light bars. They are tossed out quicker than you can say "Toy Boat" ten times fast. Welp, I think I found a solution! I washed one with glass cleaner, and removed the wiring underneath. Added some candles and there ys have it. I super duper new lighted centerpiece!
You can So do this too....peice of cake!
Cheers!
Shannon

Saturday, September 17, 2011

OK, ok, ok, I am finally getting back on the blog wagon and I hope you enjoy the ride with me. I will be showing you all my secrets and fun design and decorating tricks from basically everything that folks throw away.
One of the best stories ever is about the gates that I have above my bed. They came from an old driveway on our property. Well at least that's what I thought. I found out they were made from boards that fell down from a storm in the 1960's. They were saved and made into jumping gates for horses. Then twenty years later they were rescued again for decor in a restaurant with a western theme. After the restaurant closed, they were put in storage. Ten years later a guy asked if he could have the gates. He took them home, and used them as driveway gates. Fast forward 20y plus years more. We bought the property and during the construction of the REX Project, they were saved again. Recycling two gates over the past 50 years. Love it!